Entries this day: goldDollars

goldDollars

written 1:43am CDT Friday 14 July 2000

Back-in-the-day, when I first met Maggie and crew in the dorms, Maggie would often buy me lunch. I commented on this, and she said something to the effect of,

money is just like stuff.  If I happen to have extra stuff, then
I like to be able to share it.

Her actual quote was much more elegant.

That quote has impressed me for many years (6 or more)... Recently I've been reading a book called The Art of Loving, which was written in 1956 or so. I don't remember the author's name.

In it (and I slaughter the quote), I read something like, "one is wealthy if one will of one's self, or give money or possessions. A person who hoardes money and possessions is poor, and he who shares them is rich."

Something like that. Something also like, even greater than giving of stuff, one may give one's own human-ness: emotions, talents, care, attention etc.

Hmmm.

- - - -

So I had a crispy $20 bill and bought a single thirty-three cent stamp with it from the Post Office vending machine, and got 19 dollar coins back, including 18 golden dollars and one 1999 Susan B Anthony.

In the past couple of days, I've given away 3 or 4 of those dollars.

(I recognize an interesting thing - the 1 dollar coins seem like less money than the 1 dollar bills.)

I believe the book was not suggesting that I just give away all my money in the form of dollar coins, but I found it interesting to watch my emotions and feelings when giving them away. To a slight extent, I did feel powerful (not like "I am all powerful!" but) as if I could share this energy with others.

I really think that the sharing of one's self is one of the greatest things we can do with each other.. That if I share my real self with others, that is giving in the highest form.

I just suddenly realized this journal must count as such a gift. Thank you for allowing me to share it with you.

permalink